Henry w



(No Model.)

H. W. FORD & R. M. FERGUSON. HOOP COUPLING.

No. 477.174. Patented June 14; 1892.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY \V. FORD AND RICHARD M. FERGUSON, OF BELOIT, \VISCONSIN, AS- SIGNORS TO THE ECLIPSE VIND ENGINE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

HOOP-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 477,174, dated June 14, 1892.

Application filed August 2d, 1891. Serial No.4:03,501. (No model.)

To (4 whom it may concern: the surface of the tank, thereby, in connection Be it known that we, HENRY \V. FORD and with the bend of the hoop around the part 9, RICHARD M. FERGUSON, both of Beloit, in the securely locking the hoop in place and precounty of Rock and State of Vvisconsiinhave venting its drawing out of or from the coup- 5 ointly invented certain new and useful Imling. The hoop being thus secured at both .provements in Hoop-Couplings, of which the ends to the couplings, the latter are forced following is a specification. toward each other by action of the straining- In the accompanying drawings, in which rod, thus tightening the hoop to any extent like letters indicate like parts, Figure 1 is a desired. This construction dispenses with :0 horizontal section of the coupling and strainthe use of rivets and brings the strain equally ingrod in position, and Fig. 2 is a front view upon the entire width of the hoop, so that it of the same. is not liable to rupture at the point where it Ourinvention relates to that class of devices is fastened to the couplings. No cutting or which serve as the connection for the ends of riveting being necessary, the parts can be r5 a metal hoop upon water-tanks and similar readily and conveniently put together and as structures having convex external surfaces readily taken apart. and properly belongs to that class of couplings As distinguished from another device inwherein the ends of the hoop are attached to vented by us for a similar purpose and forming couplings (sometimes called lugs) and the the subject-matter of a separate application, 20 necessary strain secured by a straining-rod filed August 22, 1890, Serial No. 403,404, now connecting the said couplings. pending for Letters Patent, the device herein The objects are to furnish a very cheap and described and claimed possesses the following durable coupling and also simplify the mannew feature and function, to wit: By introner of making such connections. ducing the hoop through the opening g and '25 In the drawings, F represents the convex then bending it around the front end of the surface of a tank, upon which rest the couppart 9' and down between the body of the lings G G, attached to the ends of the hoop coupling and the convex surface of the tank II and connected together by the strainingthe result is that the tightening of the strainrod K. One of the couplings, and preferably ing-rod acts preliminarily to firmly clamp the 0 each, contains the opening g, through which extreme end of the hoop against the body of the hoop is passed, the transverse part g, over the tank, so as to confine such end from yieldwhich the hoop is passed, around which the ing under a further strain, after which the hoop is bent, and between which and the surfurther tightening of the straining-rod draws face of the tank the return-bend of the hoop is directly upon the body of the hoop, and there- 5 clamped; also, the transverse part 9 through fore to the best advantage. We deem it imwhich the straining-rod is passed. The end portant that the partg'should extend forward of the hoop II, diverging from the tank in toward the centerbetween the blocks and that order to pass through the opening g and over the end should be turned down under said the transverse part g, is then bent around part g and between it and the body of the 40 and back beneath said transverse part as tank, for by this means the band is much more shown. securely held, inasmuch as an immense press- The mode of operation is as follows: The me is thus brought to bear on the end of the several parts having been connected together band between the part g and the body of the as above described, and illustrated in the tank, and there is no possibility of the end of 5 4 5 drawings, upon screwing up the straining-rod the band slipping out under any circum K the parts g g are pulled toward each other, stances, whereas in the invention above reand as the strain on the hoop tends to prevent ferred to there is a possibility of the end slip the parts g g moving around the tank there ping under some circumstances, which is not is a tendency to rock the blocks G G on said possible Where the end of the band is held be- I00 50 parts g g, and thus act to firmly clamp the tween the extension part 9 and the tank and hoop l-I between the transverse part g and pressed down by said part g.

Having thus described our inveution,what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. As a fastening and tightening device for tank-hoops, a coupling consisting of two metallic blocks connected by a straining-rod, one of said blocks being provided with an opening adapted to admit the body of the hoop, with a transverse projecting part to receive the end of the straining-rod, and with a trans- Verse part extending from said projecting part toward the center between the blocks and around which the end of the hoop is bent so as to lie between said transverse part and the body of the tank and be firmly clamped to the tank by the action of the straining-rod, substantially as described.

j and away from the projecting lug g and the opening g under the lug g to allow of the passage of the hoop under said lug and thence over and around under the part g, substantially as set forth.

HENRY WV. FORD. R. M. FERGUSON.

l/Vitnesses:

ROBT. TODD, i W G. W. SPARKS. 

